AROUND THE MAJORS

Boone Sidelined 3-4 Weeks

Third baseman Aaron Boone of the Cincinnati Reds has a broken right hand that will sideline him for three to four weeks.

Boone was hit on the outside of the right hand by a pitch from Wade Miller of the Houston Astros during the Astros' victory Monday night. X-rays performed shortly after the injury found no fracture.

The hand was still extremely sore Tuesday, so Boone was sent for a CAT scan that found a small crack in the hamate bone, which is at the top of the wrist.

Boone was set for surgery Tuesday night. The Reds put him on the 15-day disabled list and planned to call up third baseman Brandon Larson from triple-A Louisville.

The St. Louis Cardinals' Rick Ankiel, sent to the minor leagues to regain his control, walked six and threw eight pitches to the backstop in three-plus innings in his first start for triple-A Memphis against the Oklahoma RedHawks.

Cleveland center fielder Kenny Lofton will be placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a pulled muscle in his side. . . . The Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who last week denied a report that the team might be on the verge of a financial crisis, met payroll as scheduled. The New York Times, citing a source close to major league baseball's hierarchy, reported Saturday that a rift between owners of the Devil Rays could jeopardize the club's ability to pay players and other employees in coming weeks. The newspaper said that even if the team were able to meet payroll Tuesday that "it looks like they'll miss it at the end of the month." . . . . Kris Benson, expected to be the Pittsburgh Pirates' top starting pitcher, cut short a bullpen throwing session because of lingering elbow pain and expected to learn within a day if he needs season-ending surgery. Also, starting center fielder Adrian Brown will have surgery to repair his right shoulder and is out until September. . . . Astro infielder Bill Spiers will have surgery today to relieve pressure on a nerve in his lower back. . . . Doctors found a cyst in the right shoulder of Atlanta Brave pitcher Kevin Millwood, who is on the disabled list. It is not cancerous and should disappear as Millwood builds up strength in his shoulder, trainer Dave Pursley said. . . . Bullpen coach Ed Ott, 49, of the Orioles was hospitalized in Baltimore after experiencing chest pains.